With College Football officially kicking off today, I've decided to break out the glamour position of Quarterback for our 4th weekly installment of TOP TEN players in College Football History by position. As with our previous TOP TEN lists on Running Backs, Linebackers, and Defensive Backs, this list is based mainly on WHO I LIKE BEST! And as usual, there will be a POLL at the bottom of the post, which will allow you to vent a bit (a VERY little bit) about my choices. Also be sure to check out the highlighted links to the awesome Original Retro Brand team gear these QB's played for too! Here we go....
10. Tom Harmon, Michigan: Ok, ok, he was mainly a running back, but in addition to his 2,000+ rushing yards, he threw for over 1,000 yards and kicked extra points. Coolest footnote is 1940 Heisman winner wore cool jersey # 98!
9. Archie Manning, Ole Miss: No, not Peyton from the Vols! Bear Bryant said Manning was the best college QB he had ever seen (sorry Joe Willie!). Was 4th and 3rd Heisman runner up in 1969 & 1970, and voted into College Football Hall of Fame in 1989.
#3 FOREVER YOUNG
8. Bernie Kosar, Miami: Led the Canes to their first National Championship over an undefeated Nebraska in 1983. He holds many school passing records, notably his career passing completion pctg. of 62.3
7. Jim Mcmahon, BYU (ORB shirt coming real soon!): The man finished his career (sat out many games due to injury by the way) with over 70 NCAA passing records...SEVENTY!!!! He threw for over 4,000 yards and 47 TD's in 1980...sick numbers.
6. Joe Namath, Alabama: Led the Crimson Tide to 1964 National Championship. Later that year, Namath became the highest paid player ever to be drafted in Pro Football history, by signing $427,000 contract with the AFL's New York Jets (at the time it was a lot of dough!). Even though he whooped my beloved Colts in Super Bowl III, the Fu Manchu & Bachelor's III, and Broadway Joe, etc....couldn't resist (I know it's a College list and I don't care!)
5. Dan Marino, Pitt: Beating my DAWGS in the 1982 Sugar Bowl with less than a minute to go makes it very difficult to put him on this list, but he was amazing. The College Football Hall of Famer was the very first player to be drafted in the USFL, by the LA Express. Luckily for the Dolphins, the money wasn't right.
4. Charlie Ward, Florida State: The 1993 National Champion & Heisman Winner also played basketball for the Nole's, and led them to a Sweet Sixteen appearance in 1992. He also played amateur tennis, and was drafted as a pitcher by the Brewers and NY Yankees. The College Football Hall of Famer was perhaps the best all-around college athlete EVER.
3. Vince Young, Texas: The numbers are astonishing; Over 6,000 yards passing, and over 3,000 rushing: C-R-A-Z-Y. Wrapped up his career neatly with a 200+ yd passing/200+ yd rushing/3 TD performance against USC for undefeated National Championship victory in 2005. Last TD came with 19 seconds to go.
2. Steve Spurrier, Florida: OH, THE UTTER AND COMPLETE PAIN of including him in this list, and this high up? I guess it's that after all of the beat-downs he's put on Georgia as a player and coach, I've softened up over the years, and realized (although he is the enemy for ever), I need to pay him his due. The 2-Time first team All American, and 1966 Heisman winner also kicked extra points and rushed for four hundred yards too.
THE DODGER #1
1. Roger Staubach, Navy: Roger the "Dodger." 1963 Heisman Trophy Winner led the Midshipmen to a # 2 Ranking the same year. Because of his commitment to the service, he didn't start his NFL career until he was 27. Great player & great Patriot make him # 1 in my book.
Did I leave off anybody you can think of? Were there any other deserving QB's? Even I have to admit this one is just too difficult to really pick who is the best. So take your shots, and leave me some comments on who you think should be included and/or taken off this list. More importantly......COLLEGE FOOTBALL STARTS TONIGHT!!!! YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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